The Sunday Mail
THE Ras Tafari-inspired faith and movement is very much related to Christianity among other religions. Christianity in mention being directly derived from Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is the home of all religion, civilisation and mankind himself. Ethiopia is also the first territory to adapt Christianity as a nation. As a matter of factor, many characters in the Bible are Ethiopians.
This Ethiopia is not necessarily the same as we speak of today. Over the years, jurisdiction of this sovereign has been fluctuating. For instance, the Queendom of the Queen of Sheba included Yemen and Syria, across the Red Sea.
The fulfilment of this prophecy (Psalm 68), is Ras Tafari Makonnen, the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
His titles King of Kings and Lord of Lords do not just coincide with the book of Revelation. Ras Tafari is the second coming of Christ.
Hence Ras Tafarians are Christians. Christians are yet to embrace Ras Tafari and we eagerly await their realisation.
His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie is 225th direct descendent of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
This is the very same root of David the Scriptures promise the Messiah will re-incarnate.
In Ethiopia they have always celebrated the birth of Christ but not on December 25. Not necessarily his birthday but his nativity to Ethiopia. January 7 is celebrated as the day newly born baby, Jesus Christ was presented the famed three gifts by three Ethiopian kings popularly known as the three wise men.
By name, according to Hans Holzer these three wise men are: Caspar, King of Afghanistan; Melchior, ruler in the Near East, and Balthasar, King of Ethiopia.
William Leo Hansbury and E Harper Johnson identify them as: Caspar (Gazpor/Gaspard), King of Ethiopia; Melchior, King of Nubia; and Balthazar (Bazan), King of Saba.
Caspar’s gift was gold, Melchior presented frankincense and Balthasar’s gift was myrrh.
Concerning Christmas, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I has this to say speeches and utterances delivered during different times and contexts: “Today, Christmas, the anniversary of the birth of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, we extend our warm and sincere greetings to all the students here in our Capital, to those in the schools established by us throughout the Empire and many others studying abroad.
“Once again, as annually, we are today here in your midst and in this Christmas Hall observing this great day which has been awaited by millions in all parts of the world just as we have anxiously anticipated it’s coming.
“In guiding the various agencies to fulfill the requirements of modern civilisation, we have taken under our direct care, together with our responsibilities, the enormous responsibility of education giving it priority as a means not only of providing you with enlightenment, of raising your standard of living, of leading you to better health, but to guarantee that in the pursuit of your aims and aspirations you will be an asset to your country.
“For Christian people no day is as glorious and joyous as the day on which they commemorate the Nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ. On this day each one of us tries to forget his worries and his anxieties and endeavours to alleviate those of his loved ones and friends, and to forgive those who have wronged him, so as only to meditate on the life of him who is Supreme Lord of All.
“From our early childhood we are struck by sentiments of unfathomable mystery, simple and yet sublime, which stirs up in us the evocation of the birth of the divine child.
“The mystery of Bethlehem reveals itself in our spirits, more fascinating the more we advance on the path of life, and the more we realise the magnitude of the mission each one of us has to accomplish in this world, be it humble or noble, arduous or thankless.
“An unheard of event, expected for more than forty centuries has at last been accomplished: the Son of God is born, He has only a stable for His palace and a manger for a cradle. The hearts of the wise are thrilled by his majestic humility, and the Kings of the earth bend their knees before HIM and worship HIM.
“In the same manner when he went to the summit of Calvary, there to expiate our sins with the supreme sacrifice, He gave up his last breath invoking forgiveness for His very tormentors: ‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.’
“In pondering over the life, the goodness, the humanity and sacrifice of the Saviour of the world, in looking at the laws which
“He gave us, how much should we be ashamed to call ourselves Christian people, and yet not to follow His footsteps.”
Had we been Christian people, had we been worthy of the name, peace would have reigned on earth, and we would have reigned on all the face of the earth, and we would have risen to the level of immortal angels who always glorify the eternal God, and the peoples of the world would no longer have remained divided into hostile camps.
Ras Tafari Makonnen Wolde Mikael is not necessarily keen on defining which Christmas is champion over the other. HIM Haile Selassie I’s main concern with regards to the matter is that all Christian people unite in pure love, peace and harmony.
By doing so, by now we are supposed to be highly evolved beings the same ranks as immortal angels in Heaven. Planet Earth being the only place known to contain life and hence is Heaven; the Conquering Lion of Judah seating on David’s throne as Elect of God, it is high time those that call unto Jah rise to the occasion and vanquish Babylon.
